NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2016
pasadena humane society & spca
Companion Animals Make a Difference The holiday season is full of friends, family and festivities. For Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA (PHS) companion animal volunteers it’s also a special time to give back to the community. Our pet therapy teams provide comfort to senior citizens in assisted and independent living, hospital patients, and young people in residential facilities that address crisis intervention. These visits help PHS connect with the community while strengthening the human-animal bond. For Polly Wheaton and her dog Madeline, the program has been a way to make a difference in the community for years. She notes that residents love getting to know them and look forward to seeing them. “For many people, our companion animal teams are the only visitors they have,” she says, so each visit makes a huge difference in residents’ lives.
She remembers one hospital visit where they met a young woman in a wheelchair. “Madeline walked up to her and gave her a great big kiss on the ear,” Polly recalls, “and her face just lit up. It’s wonderful to see them, to give each resident a little bit of joy.” Our therapy pets are friendly, peopleoriented companion animals. The (continued on back page)
compassion and care for all animals